From the opening chapter and onwards, there is an uneasy sense of the supernatural and suspense that lingers throughout The Honey and the Sting. I can't recall reading anything quite like it as I don't often dip into historical fiction, so this was a welcome change. Gripping and at times extremely raw, this was a great read.

The unending and relentless pursuit of the sisters, and the peril they find themselves in was captivating. You are constantly on edge whilst waiting to see if the fox living amongst them will cause manage to cause them harm. The sisters themselves were all unique characters, each strong in their own different ways. I particularly liked Melis who was intriguing due to her visions and a strong connection to the natural world. I loved the inclusion of bees, and her affinity with them.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the novel was the reimagining of George Villiers' story. He truly is the terrible villain of the tale, and was wicked through and through. The characterisation of his murderer was also interesting, and I liked the imagined story that went along with that. If you know the history behind the two, it does sort of give the end of the novel away, but the journey to arrive there is intriguing none the less.

There is no doubt that this is beautifully written, it sucks you in and creates a level of intrigue that is often hard to achieve using just the written word. A movie can use noise, visuals and creepy music to drive up tension levels, yet Fremantle achieves that same spine tingling edginess here with her writing alone. This continues until the very last sentence, which left me shuddering!

Well worth a read for anyone that enjoys a thriller or wants to try something different. I'd give it 3.5 stars.

The Honey and the Sting takes us back to a time when to be an independent woman was treated with suspicion and to have three single women living together without the protection of a man was nothing short of scandalous. For sisters, Hester, Melis and Hope, surviving against the odds is what keeps them going, that and protecting Hester's illegitimate son, Rafe, from the clutches of his scheming father. Forced to flee their family home, and the small circle of friends who support them, the sisters have no choice but to take Rafe far way from his father. A father who is powerful and who has both the guile and the means to track the family down. What then follows is a fascinating historical drama which has danger, intrigue and the shadowy darkness which comes from living a life in fear of being discovered. When Rafe's father sends a formidable adversary to find the women the story takes on an altogether more sinister atmosphere.

I've really enjoyed spending time with the sisters, they're an interesting bunch to be sure. Hester is the family matriarch who wants to keep them all safe, Melis is the ethereal one, given over to visions of the future and, if this was discovered, she would be denounced as witch. The youngest of the three is Hope, the beautiful one with an allure which attracts her to the wrong type of men.

The Honey and the Sting is an interesting historical mystery and I have enjoyed placing myself in the early part of the seventeenth century. I liked being back in the time of James I, and more particularly discovering more about George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, who I always had in mind as the quintessential villain. I wasn't disappointed in the way he is portrayed in this story.

The Honey and the Sting is a well written historical adventure. The author captures the mood of the time very well and intertwining this drama with what is known about Villiers gives the story a dangerous edginess. I've now read several of this talented author's historical novels and I am always impressed by the way she brings history alive in the imagination.

Warning, spoilers ahead.

I have read and enjoyed previous works by this author so was prepared to settle in for another historical retelling. True to form this one covers George Villiers, later Buckingham, the favourite of King James who rose to power and infamy. There are a lot of aspects to this book that I like, including a flirtation with the supernatural in the form of a young sister and her affinity for bees. I found Melis even more interesting than the central figure of Hester, but then again I do have a fondness for honeybees. The rewritten history of Felton, the man who would later assassinate the hated Duke I actually found to be a compelling one knowing Villiers and his insatiable appetite for power. What rubbed me entirely the wrong way was the third sister, Hope.

We are to understand that Hope is not blood related but a ward taken in by the kindly father of the two sisters and raised as his own. Notably she is also mixed race, deemed a 'mulatto' in the text and some references to her dusky skin noted by the more small minded locals. I was really disappointed that Hope was chosen to be the stereotypical highly sexed Black female, falling not once but twice for total strangers and completely disregarding the safety of her family. I question whether she needed to even be written as mixed race to play this role of gullible fool. I understand that she is young and naive, but surely after losing her virginity to some random man who gives her a fake token of his affection she wouldn't run straight into the arms of yet another but that is exactly what happens. By the end of the book she's making out with the farmer's daughter.

I try to give the benefit of the doubt but it irks me that a Black woman was inserted in this way, perpetuating attitudes towards Black bodies and animalistic sexual urges that date back to well before this era. I wanted to explore Hope as a strong character, capable of blurring gender lines as she protects her sisters wearing a man's uniform and yes, even falling in love with another woman. I wish the focus had remained on those aspects instead of the sadly easy route that was taken to further the plot again and again.

17. century England. Three sisters, three secrets.

Very well potreyed characters, atmosphere is spot-on, very enjoyable read.

Misterious, page turning novel.

Well I knew George Villiers was a bad un but this book bought the detail to life.

While I know that this story is probably not historically perfectly accurate it was set in a place and time that made sense.
Great plot and characters.

What a wonderful book!
From the front cover to the very last sentence It was an utterly delicious story.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to review an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I loved every moment of this book.

I so loved this story about three independent women and how they coped with the many trials and tribulations that happened to them, due to their sex. All the way through this book, I was vividly reminded of the March sisters in the book, Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott.
Hester, Melis and Hope are sisters. Hester is the mother of Rafe, her illegitimate son, she was raped whilst in the employment of George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham. She and her sisters are living quietly together, all bringing up young Rafe, and hoping against hope, that his father won’t claim him when he is old enough to go and live in the Duke’s household. Melis, is different, prone to visions, more in tune with nature, but has unsettling insights into human nature, and would probably be arrested upon charges of witchcraft, if her sisters weren’t protecting her.
Hope is the innocent, and a danger to herself, she is prone to the charms and wiles of men, and is often headstrong and impetuous.
When George comes to claim his son, the three sisters take refuge in an abandoned house, deep in a forest. Here, they are introduced to Lark, a blind young woman, who forms a sympathetic relationship with Hope. George sends one of his many lovers , Lieutenant Felton, to find them and bring back his son, and this event sets off a chain reaction.
I liked the way the sisters made the most of each other’s abilities and strengths, but, considering they were hiding out in the forest, they were very trusting of strangers that happened to cross their paths. Hester found it safer to maintain the pretence of being a widow rather than be known as a fallen woman, which does reflect the social and sexual morals of this time span, 17c England. Rafe was a worry, his character began to change, as he fell under the spell of Felton, all murderers start small, and Rafe seemed to enjoy the trapping and killing of animals, and he became more dismissive of his female companions, could he be showing more kinship with his father? The use of feminine intuition, or witchcraft, as used by Melis, and womanly wiles, as employed by Hester and Hope, set in motion the plan to assassinate George Villiers, in order for them to experience freedom and peace.
The use of real life characters, and they way they created this work of fiction is well researched and works well. I actually did extra reading on George Villiers after finishing this book, and he deserved exactly what fate befell him, in my opinion.
I would rate this as a five star read, most enjoyable. The parallel I drew with Little Women, I believe is appropriate. Hester/ Meg, Melis/ Jo, Hope/ Amy and Lark/ Beth. Readers will have their own views upon this, I am sure!!
I will post a review to Goodreads and Amazon later.

A very compelling read that mixes fact and fiction, taking the assassination of the Duke of Buckingham in 17th century Portsmouth as an anchor to a rich and complex story of love, loss and betrayal.

There are three sisters, a fatherless child and a male protector of their unusual position as independent women living a quiet life in the Oxfordshire countryside. When the father comes unannounced to claim the boy as his own, all hell breaks loose, and a pacy gothic tale traces the characters to its bloody conclusion.

The characters both good and bad are well-drawn and distinct, and you invest in their cares and challenges as they duel and fight for possession of the boy and the love of his father.

There's a lot about the value of life and the lives of women at the time that is capable of shocking, and a punch of an ending that might surprise. Well worth the read, very enjoyable.

A heartfelt thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for this ARC.

E.C Freemantle’s historical fiction ‘The Honey and the Sting’ is a fast paced, Gothic tale centered around the lives of three sisters Hester, Melis and Hope who live in relative seclusion along with Hester’s young son, Rafe. We soon learn Hester was the victim of rape by George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham and has had to work hard to overcome adversity and foster a favorable reputation as a grieved widow rather than a promiscuous female.
I loved how Freemantle used real life historical characters and blended them with fictional events. George Villiers only features briefly within the novel but his presence and the threat he poses is felt on every page. The sisters are pursued by Felton, an individual hired by Villiers to find the sisters also has his own tangled relationship with this enigmatic character. Freemantle switches between character perspectives which offers further insights into individual motivations and desires to keep things hidden.
The challenges facing single women during the 17th Century was an issue I thought Freemantle was keen to explore. The character of Melis is plagued by strange visions and a commune with nature that sets her apart from her sisters but also seems to be incredibly oppressive. Her sisters are keen to protect her and keep her away from society’s gaze however this can only last for so long. A story about familial bonds, desire and power ‘The Honey and the Sting’ is a gripping novel that was hard to put down!

A very enjoyable book. Hester is raped by George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham whilst in his service. She returns home but 8 years later George decides he wants his son and tries to take him by force. Although Villiers and Felton are real people, Hester's story if fictional.
The joy of the book is the actual reading of it rather than rushing to find out what happens in the end.

The Honey and the Sting... first of all, what a name for a novel. It has "classic" written all over it.

This is a historical fiction book set in England in the 17th Century. I love history and this book didn't disappoint at all. Even though it's fiction, it touches on actual events and customs from the Middle Ages, including witchcraft and other social issues such as children out of wedlock. You can tell a lot of research has gone into this book. I'm not an expert by any means but I have read plenty on the subject and the author does a great job portraying this.

The characters, the setting, the vivid dialogue... this novel ticks all the boxes.

Disclosure: I would like to thank the publisher for my advanced reader copy of the book. This is my honest review.

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I was transfixed whilst reading this historical Gothic style novel.
It had an almost supernatural feel and the characters were strong, independent women even in such circumstances and a history that tried hard to undermine such strength.
Underlying the love, sisterhood and loyalty lay complex themes of desire, deception and illusion. I also loved the way the bees are featured in this enigmatic and eventful story.

This was a beautiful read. It is not the type of book I would usually have picked up for myself however I found myself absolutely devouring it. It is well crafted and the characters are strongly built

Once in a while a book comes along that just ticks all your boxes and makes you happy that such a book was written and that you got to read it. The Honey and the Sting is that book for me.

The pacing throughout the book is spot on, the way it push you to a precipice then pulls you back is masterful. In addition there is an underlying air of tension that never quite dissipates.

The characters are brilliantly written, I particularly enjoyed how Melis and Hope were portrayed.

The settings used throughout are vivid and easy to imagine. The manor and the forest almost being another character.

The plot is maybe foreshadowed a little heavily, I worked out most of what was going to happen, but that didn't dilute my enjoyment.

Overall, a really well written and enjoyable read. One the easiest 5 star rating I've ever given

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is not my usual genre, I’m more into romance stories and literary fiction however I wanted to take the opportunity to read something from outside my norm. And I am glad I did!! Thank you for opening up my mind to something totally different.

A powerful story that is gripping and the suspense of this outstanding book is truly fascinating well written story with strong characters.

There's a wasp in our hive.

Three sisters stay together with Hesters young child Rafe. While only a late teen Hester (the oldest) was raped by a nobleman, falling pregnant then sent home to have the child in shame. 9 years later the nobleman comes forth looking to claim his child as his own. Melis and Hope flee their home with their sister and her child to seek protection.

Hope and Melis are hugely influential throughout the outcome of the book. I've decided not to write about them though, I knew nothing of either character before reading The Honey and The Sting and really enjoyed the surprise of the characters personalities and traits - no matter what I write I give away a spoiler!

Each chapter covers a different character - one with their own secret - which keeps the tension built throughout the book.

Although historical fiction I didn't learn much about the town or time setting. But the time period is an excuse for all that's happening in the book and it works.

I read this book in a day, really enjoyed it and was eager to know what was coming next. I enjoyed reading all the characters, their secrets and flaws included.

If you like historical fiction based in tudor court you'll like this. Full of excitement, lies, scandal, secrets and different characters.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this ARC.

I was impressed with this book, because it really does create an authentic seventeenth century atmosphere, and right from the start it is exciting and a page turner.
It concerns George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, who gets a young woman pregnant and thrown out of the household, after which she has to survive as best she can. I will not spoil the book by revealing any more, but it is highly recommended.

The Honey and the Sting is an historical fiction novel set in England during the reign of King Charles I, whose royal favourite, George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham has a role in this novel.

The book centres on the lives of 3 sisters, who live a humble and quiet life in rural Oxfordshire. Hester, claims to be widow to protect her family and son from claims of illegitimacy. Her son, Rafe is the product of rape, after she and her sister Melis were sent to the court to serve the Buckingham family.
Melis is a strange and unusual woman, afflicted by visions where she believes she sees the future and claims she communicates with bees.
The third sister is Hope, a teenaged mixed race girl, brought home by the girls father, after a short lived relationship with Hope's mother.

As Rafe approaches his 9th birthday, his father, George Villiers comes to claim him, sending the little family into a spiral of despair which forces them to flee into hiding, bringing tragedy and requiring them to fight against Villiers and his agents in ways they never dreamt possible.

I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. It has great pace, and strong female characters. There is an air of witchiness as Melis' visions and seeming ability to communicate with the bees lend the story a supernatural feeling. We also see Hope cross dressing as a man in order to throw the family's pursuers off their scent, and become attracted to another female character, Lark who helps the family while they are in hiding.

There are no doubt some readers who would reject the sense of modernity the book has in its empowered female characters and queer relationships, who would argue that women in the 1600's simply didn't, couldn't, wouldn't behave in the way these characters do. But I think we have to remember that history at this time was almost exclusively written by men (white men at that) for consumption by other men. The stories of women and how they lived were almost completely unheard. Plus the narrative force behind this story is a woman trying to protect her child from the powerful father who raped her, made her think that was her fault, then turned her out when he found out she was pregnant and left her to eke out an existence until he deemed it appropriate to return and claim his son. Don't tell me that's not a story as old as time.

This book is a really great read. It’s as much a historical novel as it is a gothic thriller, which is the best kind, and probably why I loved it. It is slightly mysterious with unexplained goings on and with a good dose of suspense and adventure. This book is really well written with a great cast of characters that I’m going to miss.

The story is of three very different but independent sisters. Hester forcibly seduced by the Duke of Buckingham, George Villiers and left to raise her illegitimate son Rafe on her own and in secret. Her sister Melis has visions and can see what has yet to happen and is in danger of being denounced as a witch. And the youngest sister Hope who is beautiful and trusting. They live quietly and independently. However, the shadow of the Duke lives over them as he decides to claim Rafe for his own when he turns nine. But the sisters know a secret that could either save them or be their downfall...